Giving thanks for Miranda, heaven's newest soccer star
We've got Thanksgiving this week, but no big deal, I give thanks every day of my life that I don't live in Angryville.
I spend most days giving thanks. Thanks to the wife and daughter, for example, who will pack pillows on our five-hour drive to Arizona today, which will encourage them to fall asleep. Thanks for peace and quiet.
I give thanks Hometown Buffet will be open to serve dinner Thursday knowing the other daughter will be trying to cook a turkey for the first time.
I give thanks there's tryptophan in turkey, knowing the Bagger will gorge himself.
I give thanks we have someone like Tim Leiweke, who brings us Beckham, because what is life without laughter?
I give thanks to the Screaming Meanie, who is trying to figure out whether Dodgers fans prefer Little League fields or Manny Ramirez, because what is life without laughter?
I give thanks because The Times has the No. 1 columnist in the land in Plaschke, because what is life without laughter?
Page 2 desperately needs knuckleheads like Al Thornton and the yokels living in San Diego, but I'm thankful not everyone takes sports so seriously, for a long list of sports folks, celebrities and Times readers donating more than $1 million the last few years to help sick kids locally.
Folks like Scully & Wooden, Joe Torre, Mike Scioscia and Donald Sterling, sure.
But more folks like John, who just wants to donate $100 for every goal his kids score while playing soccer, eventually sending a $1,000 check to Mattel's and writing, "You can't believe the look on their faces when they scored and knew they were helping a sick child."
Local businessman Mark Verge takes an interest in the hospital, puts together a website -- bidsforkids.org -- and is now auctioning off lunches with Ben Howland, Jordan Farmar and Page 2, dinner with Bill Walton and shooting lessons with Baron Davis.
What a great idea, donate money to help sick kids and teach Davis how to shoot better at the same time and maybe curing what ails the Clippers.
Mike Massey e-mails out of nowhere to say the Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund of the plumbers and pipe fitters union would like to buy $2,000 worth of toys for the kids. Who knew Santa is a plumber?
